Questions asked on Mundine’s future

BOXING: It would have been extremely painful for Tony Mundine to watch his son Anthony hit the canvas five times in 10 rounds on Wednesday night as world-class Ghanaian Joshua Clottey dished out the biggest hiding of "The Man's" boxing career in Newcastle.

So comprehensive and punishing was the loss, with all three judges giving Clottey a landslide win, that the question of whether Mundine would retire was being asked just minutes after the brutal defeat.

On the evidence dished out by Clottey, whose only defeats in a 38-bout career, before making Mundine victim number 34, were to Manny Pacquiao, Miguel Cotto, Antonio Maragarilo and Carlos Baldomir - all world champions - the answer could easily be yes.

When contacted yesterday by APN, Mundine's long-time rival Danny Green did not want to comment on Mundine's boxing future or speculation the pair could jump in the ring one more time. "Sorry mate, no comment," was Green's response.

The general feel though was that the ease in which Clottey repeatedly sat Mundine down with both left and right-hand punches, was that the end was nigh for the former rugby league star who walked away from the game to follow the path taken by his father Tony in the 1970s and '80s.

Tony retired in 1984 after 96 fights. He won 80 of them, 64 by knockout. If Anthony calls it quits, his record will be 52 fights for 46 wins, 27 by knockout, and six losses.